Exhibit of decade works premieres at PUAM

An exhibit at the Princeton University Art Museum whirls spectators into the works of today’s most noteworthy artists. “A Material Legacy: The Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Collection,” is on view through Oct. 30. It features 35 large-scale pieces completed in the last decade from individuals whose creative processes are diverse and not always traditional.

If you fancy a deeper look at the “descendants of avant-garde,” as they’re called in the exhibit description, PUAM Docent Nancee Goldstein will be leading a tour at 3 p.m. on Aug. 21. The event is free for all interested in the arts and will meet at the museum entrance in the center of campus.

When “A Material Legacy” opened July 30, it was its first time being admired by public eyes. Before then, it remained in the private collection of Nancy Nasher and David Haemisegger, both Princeton University alumni from the Class of 1976. Nasher and Haemisegger are the daughter and son-in-law of Raymond D. and Patsy T. Nasher – two iconic collectors, patron and philanthropists in the art world.

While Nasher’s parents were known to have amassed one of the world’s greatest collections of modern sculpture, she and her husband have established a devotion to contemporary art. Carrying on the family legacy, Nasher and Haemisegger have loaned an array of paintings, drawings, sculptures and multimedia works to the university museum.

“This fresh and diverse collection of work by major contemporary artists offers a powerful vision of current artistic practices and discourse across the globe,” said James Steward, the museum’s Nancy A. Nasher–David J. Haemisegger, Class of 1976, director. “This is an important occasion on which to discover many of today’s most important artists, often working at exceptional scale, and we are honored to share Nancy and David’s vision as collectors with our visitors.”

Some of the pieces include a painted bronze composite statue called “Ceejay,” painted one year before American artist Ken Price passed away in 2012; an oil on canvas by Kehinde Wiley that is wild with color and familial ties, titled “Naomi and Her Daughters;” and the mathematical precision of a painted wood piece, “Open Cube Structure,” by Sol LeWitt.

“The exhibition brings together many of the most exciting artists of the past decade, working at monumental scale, to illuminate the material impulse found in contemporary art practice,” said Erin Firestone, PUAM manager of marketing and public relations.

PUAM is open to the public six days a week. Museum hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is closed Mondays and major holidays. Admission is always free. To view additional events related to “A Material Legacy: The Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Collection,” other exhibits and family-friendly activities, visit www.artmuseum.princeton.edu/visit/calendar.

About Erica Chayes Wida

Erica Chayes Wida is a writer, mom, and complete zealot when it comes to poetry, paella and globe collections. After graduating with a degree in Anthropology from UCLA, Erica moved to Italy where the seasons and old architecture inspired her journey back to the East Coast. Since then, she and her husband have created a nest egg locally and, over time, developed a rather grand love affair with the town of Princeton. Erica is senior editor at The Princeton Sun and enjoys fulfilling her Princeton affections on a daily basis. | View all posts by Erica Chayes Wida →